Friendship and psychosocial functioning in children who have sustained a traumatic brain injury

BF Psychology

Ross, Kimberley Amanda ; McMillan, Tom

University:University of Glasgow

Department:Institute of Health and Wellbeing

关键词: traumatic brain injury, paediatric, pediatric, social, friendship;   

Others  :  http://theses.gla.ac.uk/2130/1/2010RossDClinPsy.pdf

来源: University of Glasgow

【 摘 要 】

Objective: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children has previously been associated with theory of mind deficits and social problem solving difficulties; potentially interfering with psychosocial development and friendships.This study aimed to investigate if friendship quality, rates of loneliness and general psychosocial functioning are different in children who have sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) compared to non-injured controls.Design: A between subjects design with 14 participants in the TBI group and 14 in the non-injured control group, all aged between 7 and 13 years.The groups were matched for gender and were similar in age and socio-economic status.Methods: There were 5 outcome measures.Three were completed by children relating to receptive vocabulary (BPVS II), friendship quality (FQQ-R) and rates of loneliness (LSDS).Two were completed by the main caregiver measuring social skills deficits and social withdrawal (PIC-2) and general psychosocial and behavioural functioning (SDQ).Outcome and Results: The TBI group had more severe difficulties in hyperactivity (z = -3.5, p < 0.001) and emotional symptoms (z = -2.4, p< 0.05) than their non-injured peers.No significant differences were observed on measures of friendship quality; however, a larger percentage of the TBI group fell within the abnormal or borderline range in terms of peer problems.Conclusions: Whilst finding evidence of vulnerability in hyperactivity, emotional symptoms and conduct problems, evidence for friendship problems were not found in children following TBI.There is a need for prospective longitudinal research to explore the complex relationship between TBI and poorer social outcomes that are often apparent in adolescence.